Waltrip's 450 Race: #7-Michael Waltrip started his 450th Winston Cup race at Michigan and tied Cecil Gordon for 5th on the all time list of most Winston Cup races without a win. See the list on the Bristol Race Info Page(8-20-2000)

More Health Stuff at Michigan: Fans can have fun and do a good deed while at Michigan Speedway this weekend. They can possibly save a life by visiting the "My Friends Care Bone Marrow Transplant Fund" booth behind the main grandstand. The American Red Cross is holding a bone marrow testing drive on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The test is free and takes about 10 minutes. AND Michigan Speedway will hold a raffle this weekend to help the Jackson Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's "Walk to Cure Diabetes." The prize for each of two winners is a set of four tickets to either of next year's NASCAR Winston Cup races here. Volunteers from the Diabetes Foundation will sell paper sneakers at four locations around the speedway for $1 each.(NASCAR Online)(8-20-2000)

(8-19-2000)

2:10pm Start times??? Update No: hearing that part of the new TV package that will go into effect will have the Cup races starting at 2:10pm/et, not including the night races(8-18-2000)UPDATE: just heard from some TV principals, and the start times will pretty much mirror this years start times, with a difference of an half hour to an hour for a few races(8-19-2000)

Valvoline Announcement? UPDATE 5 OFFICIAL: hearing that Valvoline will announce it's 2001 Winston Cup sponsorship plans at Michigan on August 19th. It's seems to be pretty much a given that they will sponsor the #10 MB2 Motorsports Pontiac and driver Johnny Benson; AND in some form own a part of the team(8-3-2000)UPDATE: Valvoline Inc. has found a new Winston Cup NASCAR driver to sponsor in the 2001 season: #10 Johnny Benson. But the Lexington company and Benson's team aren't racing to confirm the deal. While neither side is commenting, observers and a stock car racing Web site (http://www.jayski.com) are reporting the two have reached an agreement. Curiously, both Valvoline and MB2 Motorsports, which owns Benson's team, have news conferences scheduled for Aug. 19 at the Michigan Speedway(Kentucky Herald Leader)(8-10-2000)UPDATE 2: The Valvoline Co. will officially announce its plans for the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season this Saturday (Aug. 19), 11 a.m., at Michigan Speedway. Valvoline President James J. O'Brien is expected to detail a landmark program reaffirming Valvoline's commitment to Winston Cup racing(Valvoline PR)(8-15-2000)UPDATE 3: also hear the announcement will include Valvoline's involvement as the 'fluid's aupplier' to the Dodge teams(or some of the Dodge teams(8-16-2000)UPDATE 4: Valvoline will announce today that it will become the primary sponsor for the #10 Pontiacs driven by Johnny Benson next year, but that won't be the news from today's news conference. The interesting wrinkle in this deal is that Valvoline will have 50-percent ownership of the race team, which was bought earlier this summer from Tim Beverley by MB2 Motorsports(That's Racin')UPDATE 5: Valvoline announced on Saturday morning its sponsorship of the newly-renamed MBV motorsports team, in which the company will have equity interest. The announcement had been expected. The twist came in that Valvoline cast the deal as "a landmark agreement to become the first major consumer products company in history to own a NASCAR Winston Cup team." The company announced a three-year arrangement as primary sponsor but did not give details of the ownership. MBV, with the V representing Valvoline, would indicate some sort of partnership(SpeedVision) AND see the full story and images of the car at the Valvoline Racing #10 Announcement page, the 2001 #10 car looks like the #6 this year(yes, Valvoline will stay on the #6 for the rest of 2000), but a Pontiac and different number, same basic scheme AND see the story on NASCAR Online(8-19-2000)

2001 TV News? hearing that the 2001 Twin 125's will be televised LIVE on one of the Fox Channels, to air at 1:00pm/et on Thursday, Feb 15th(8-19-2000)

The Grinch car? hearing that Terry Labonte will run a "Grinch" paint scheme late in the season to promote the November release of the movie version of "The Grinch" starring Jim Carrey(8-19-2000)

#66 Driver? UPDATE: hearing that Robby Gordon is pretty much a lock for the #66 BigKmart/Route 66 Travis Carter ride in 2001, replacing Darrell Waltrip, who is retiring at the end of the 2000 season(8-18-2000)UPDATE: Travis Carter, owner of the #23 and #66 Fords, has talked to Andy Houston about coming to his team for 2001. Houston tested the #66 car a couple of weeks ago and has talked with Carter about taking over that ride after Waltrip retires at the end of this season. If Houston doesn't wind up driving the No. 66, Robby Gordon is another name that could factor in that team's plans(That's Racin')(8-19-2000)

NASCAR Channel: NASCAR officials said they expect to make an announcement soon, hopefully within the next couple of weeks, that The NASCAR Channel will be up and running next season. Fox is helping NASCAR put the channel together, and NASCAR has finally signed all the deals, according to NASCAR sources. But it may not be a 24-hour all-NASCAR all-the-time channel(PitNow)(8-19-2000)

New Rules? NASCAR's proposed new rules, which would go into effect at Talladega in October: widening the front fenders from 70 inches to 72 inches, raising the rear spoiler from 45 degrees to 65 degrees, installing a 1-5/8ths-inch vertical spoiler across the roof, raising the front bumper valence from 3 1/2 inches to 4 inches, and widening the rear spoiler from 57 inches to 59 inches and adding a one-inch lip to the top, to catch more air(PitNow) AND NASCAR VP Mike Helton said on RPM 2Night that NASCAR hopes to make an announcement on any rules changes for Talladega within the new few weeks(8-19-2000)

Drivers Burned UPDATE: Horrified fans watched as a race car driver staggered away from a fiery four-car crash, his body fully engulfed in flames until a photographer was able to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. The crash happened late Saturday night at the suburban Tacoma track Spanaway Speedway, where local drivers raced late model cars. The driver, identified as Mike Easley, remained hospitalized Sunday in critical condition. Another driver was in serious condition with burns on his head, face and torso(AP/Star Telegram)(8-14-2000)UPDATE: For more info and a way to donate to the drivers, see the Spanaway Speedway Site and the Racing West site(8-19-2000)

Musgrave in the #01 rest of the year: Ted Musgrave will drive the #01 BellSouth Chevrolet for the rest of the Winston Cup season, beginning with the Pepsi 400 on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway(EPSN/AP)(8-19-2000)

Father and two sons REPOST and History: if Kerry Earnhardt makes the starting field for the Pepsi 400 at Michigan it would be the 2nd time a father raced against his two sons in NASCAR's premier series. On August 3rd, 1960 at Birmingham, AL, #42-Lee Petty raced his sons #43-Richard and #44-Maurice. Richard was 2nd, Lee was 3rd and Maurice was 8th in a 50 mile event with 16 cars starting(Forty Years of Stock Car Racing by Greg Fielden and some research by...)(7-28/8-16-2000)UPDATE: All three Earnhardt's made the Pepsi 400 at Michigan and will race there, only the 2nd time ever in Cup history that two sones have raced against their Father(8-19-2000)

Labonte to run at Michigan? UPDATE YES: Terry Labonte is expected to return to competition. Labonte practiced Saturday morning in the #5 Chevry Monte Carlo. Lingering trouble from what was thought to have been a concusssion was disagnosed this week as an inner-ear problem(That's Racin'). If Labonte does drive the car, he wil have to fall to the back of the field from the 33rd starting spot where Todd Bodine qualified it. Can only assume, Bodine will stand by in case needed. During the BGN race, Dr Jerry Punch, said Bodine would drive the #5 Car on Sunday. Bodine won the BGN race on Saturday. Also a story at the Insider Racing site, saying: Terry Labonte will run Happy Hour if he feels okay then he will run the Winston Cup race on Sunday. He went to a new doctor this week and was told he had Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Both Labonte and the doctor believe Labonte was healed in the office that day. The Doctor told Labonte to go out and try make himself dizzy, it never happened even with 10 hours at an amusement park riding rollercoastersUPDATE: Terry Labonte's two-week absence from racing took another turn Saturday, when he climbed behind the wheel of his #5 Kelloggs/Frosted Flakes Chevy for Happy Hour/final practice and vowed to compete in Sunday's Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway. Todd Bodine will stand by on Sunday. Also Sunday, sponsor Kellogg's will announce a sponsorship extension for Labonte and the #5 team(see story below)(SpeedVision)(8-19-2000)

Donohue 25 Years: Racing Legend, Mark Donohue, who won the Indy 500 and a Winston Cup race at Riverside, passed away 25 years ago today in Austria. To see more about Donohue, his accomplishements and links to other sites, see my Mark Donohue Tribute Page, I added a few images, streamlined some images, added some links and cleaned it up a bit(8-19-2000)

Health Check UPDATE: Pfizer's Mens's Health Tune-Up for Life mobile screening unit will be at Michigan International Speedway today-Sunday to provide men and women free health screenings. The unit will be located behind the suites in the souvenir area. It will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday. The program is endorsed by Winston Cup drivers Martin, Labonte and Rusty Wallace, and Pfizer sponsors the Viagra Winston Cup car(Detroit News)(8-18-2000)UPDATE: Rusty Wallace will be appearing at the screening trailer on Saturday morning about 1 hour after the
practice session ends....roughly 11:00am. He will be on hand to answer questions for the fans(8-19-2000)

(8-18-2000)

Labonte Better, Roller Coaster? On Thursday's RPM 2Night show on ESPN2, Matt Yocum reported that Terry Labonte, who will sit out of his third straight Cup race this weekend, tested his brother's Cup car(Bobby's #18) at Lakeland, FL on Wednesday and had no ill effects as he did at Bristol on Monday. Labonte's Doctor said to help speed up the recovery process (effects from a concussion) that Labonte should ride roller coasters(wonder if his insurance covered that?). So Labonte flew to Kings Dominion in Virginia and rode the roller coasters there all day. Further updates on Labonte's condition will come Saturday when he goes to Michigan for the race weekend(RPM 2Night)(8-18-2000)

Kenny Wallace to stay put: Kenny Wallace, driver of the #55 Square-D Chevy for Andy Petree Racing, says he and the sponsor of his team, Sqaure-D, will return to APR in 2001. Wallace said he had feelers from other teams, but he is not leaving APR and the team will stick to Chevy's and not switch to Pontiacs(?)(Winston Cup Scene, Vol XXIV, NO 16)(8-18-2000)

Andretti to stick with the King: John Andretti has heard rumors that he is leaving the #43 Cheerios/Petty Enterprises team at the end of the 2000 season, but says he is not leaving, but is flattered to get calls from other team owners. Andretti recently renewed his three year contract with team owner Richard Petty(Winston Cup Scene, Vol XXIV, NO 16)(8-18-2000)

Qualifying Notes: #55-Kenny Wallace has HALO on the 1/4 panel, HALO is a brand from Cooper Lighting, one of the co-sponsors on the car. #14-Rick Mast is using a in-house David Evans built engine (called a Foyt-Coyotte). #13-Robby Gordon is back to the orange paint scheme and has Turtle Wax on the hood. #77-Pressley has an Aqua Jasper Engines paint scheme with a Panther. The #85-Carl Long Ford is bare, no sponsors, painted yellow and blue(8-18-2000)

DW and the Boy Scouts: Darrell Waltrip will be the honored guest of the 10th Annual NASCAR/Michigan Speedway Boy Scout Benefit at hte Country Club of Jackson(MI). Doesn't give a date(Winston Cup Scene, Vol XXIV, NO 16)(8-18-2000)

Craven's Schedule: Ricky Craven’s and the #50 Midwest Transit Team's tentative schedule for the rest of the season will have him competing in the following races: Michigan, Bristol, Richmond, New Hampshire, Martinsville, Charlotte, Rockingham, Phoenix and Homestead. They are unlikely to compete at Darlington, Dover, Talladega and Atlanta(Gaston Gazette)(8-18-2000)

(8-17-2000)

Kentucky Testing? hearing that #7-Micheal Waltrip and #9-Stacy Compton are testing at Kentucky Speedway August 16th and 17th(Yesterday and today(8-17-2000)

Elliott Anniversary and Paint Scheme: Bill Elliott will celebrate his 25 years in NASCAR Winston Cup racing at the track that has created as many fond memories as any other on the circuit. During Sunday's (Aug.
20) NASCAR Winston Cup event at Michigan Speedway, Elliott will drive a #94-McDonald's special edition red, yellow and silver Ford Taurus that displays his 25th season logo on each side panel. Elliott is the winningest active driver at the track with seven victories. He is third on the all-time win list for Michigan Speedway. He has more pole positions (7) at Michigan than any other active driver. He is second on the all-time list. He has led more laps (872) at the two-mile track than any other active driver. Sunday's race will be Elliott's 613th career Winston Cup start. His career took its green flag on Feb. 29, 1976 in the Carolina 500 at North Carolina Speedway. He drove a powder blue Ford Gran Torino with only one sponsor - Dahlonega Ford, a dealership in Dahlonega, Ga., that was owned by his late father, George Elliott. He qualified 34th, finished 33rd and went home with a $640 check(McDonalds Racing PR)(8-17-2000)

#96 or #98? UPDATE, it is #96: Have seen conflicting reports on what number Andy Houston will drive this weekend in the Cup race at Michigan for PPI Motorsports. If you look at their site, www.ppiracing.com, the Press Release lists #98, but they show a drawing of the car and it's #96. NOL lists it as #98 on the Entry List. We'll see for sure tomorrow in qualifyingUPDATE: I have been informed the number of the PPI Motorsports Ronald McDonald House Charities Ford will be #96 NOT #98, aslo the PPI site has corrected it to read #96(8-17-2000)

#95 News: The Sadler Bros #95 Ford team will atempt to make the Pepsi 400 at Michigan with David Keith as the driver and some sponsorship help from www.visualbible.com, who also was on the car at Indy when Keith missed the Brickyard 400 by a spot. The #95 Ford will be powered by Robert Yates Engines. The team also plans to attepmt the Southern 500 at Darlington(Sept 3rd)(8-17-2000)

Tiny Lund-25 Years: DeWayne "Tiny" Lund, died 25 years ago in a wreck at Talladega. During his 20 year career, Lund won five Grand National/Cup races in 303 starts(8-17-2000)

(8-16-2000)

Kerry Story: interesting column at the Charlotte Observer about Kerry Earnhardt that explains alot about him, his childhood and his relationship with Dale Sr, Dale Jr and his Step Dad. See it at: The `Middle E' steps up at Michigan by Scott Fowler(8-16-2000)

Labonte to sit another week UPDATE 3: Terry Labonte tested at Bristol on Monday in his son Justin's #44 BGN car. He ran five laps and after the test, decided to sit out the Cup race this weekend at Michigan. Labonte is still suffering the effects of a concussion he got in an accident at Daytona in the Pepsi 400 on July 1st. No sub has been named as of yet(RPM 2Night). Am hearing that Todd Bodine will drive the #5 Frosted Flakes/Kelloggs Chevy at Michigan for Labonte(8-15-2000)UPDATE: Terry Labonte's much-anticipated test session at Bristol Motor Speedway ended quickly Monday morning. After just a handful of laps in the Slim Jim Busch Series entry regularly driven by his son Justin, Labonte retired to the pits. The Kellogg's transporter left the track moments later. "I talked to Terry after he made his run," BMS director of communications Wayne Estes said. "Terry said he just didn't think he was ready to test today." Since Labonte did not drive his Winston Cup car Monday, he(or the team) did not lose one of his allotted (seven) test dates(Bristol Herald Courier(link good for Tues only)UPDATE 2: Todd Bodine will drive the #5 Kellogg's Chevrolet for Labonte. As he did at both Indy and Watkins Glen, Labonte will assist DeHart atop the team's pit box AND Brett Bodine, Todd's brother, will drive the #44 Slim Jim Chevy that Labonte had originally intended to drive in Saturday's BGN race(NOL)(8-15-2000)UPDATE 3: Labonte, who suffered a broken right arm(leg not arm) and concussion in the wrecks, was scheduled for further medical tests Tuesday(8-15) at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Labonte's crew chief, Gary DeHart, said Labonte did not feel well after completing four or five laps at Bristol. Todd Bodine has been asked to serve as a possible relief driver for the next three or four races, sources said Tuesday(That's Racin')(8-16-2000)

Gordon vs Stewart UPDATE 2: Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart ruined their chances at victory in Sunday's Global Crossing @ The Glen when they ran into each other on Lap 2 of the 90-lap race while battling for position, after the race, the two drivers had word: See full story at That's Racin'UPDATE: from NOL: Stewart, Gordon renew love vows by Marty Smith(8-14-2000)UPDATE 2: from That's Racin' - Stewart, Gordon move on after confrontation including: In an interview with ESPN before he left the track, Stewart took responsibility for the accident. "It was my fault," he said. "I slid into him. I was the guy that made contact with him. He didn't hit me. It wasn't intentional. I got up there and I lost the back end and slid into him." (8-16-2000)

Wells 2nd Team UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton and Jimmy Spencer are on the top of Cal Wells' list to be Scott Pruett's McDonald's-sponsored teammate in 2001, but Hamilton says he wants to stay with owner Larry McClure. Spencer says he has another year on his contract with K mart, Travis Carter and Carl Haas(PitNow). Plus Hamilton is rumored to the Ganassi Racing #01 BellSouth ride(8-14-2000)UPDATE: am hearing now, that Spencer plans to stay with Travis Carter next season in the #26 car(8-16-2000)

#48 Team News ?? REPOST: America's Team Motorsports Inc. is coming to Winston Cup. The team is combining with Mark Smith and TriStar Motorsports and plans to run five Cup events this season. FansTeam.com, an Internet-based fan club created by the America's Team group, is sponsoring the car. Darrell Lanigan is expected to compete for the team in the second races at Michigan, Richmond, Charlotte, Talladega and Rockingham. A show car for the team is scheduled to be at Southside Speedway on Saturday night(Times-Dispatch)(5-17-2000)UPDATE? have heard nothing of this fans sponsored team in a while, they are not on the entry list at Michigan. The Fans Team site lists Michigan on the 'Team' schedule but also lists it is looking for a driver, no mention of Lanigan or Stanton Barrett, who attempted to make the Daytona 500 for the team before it was known as Fans Team. Last Press Release noted on the site was in March(8-16-2000)

Jarrett/Pit/Hose: am hearing from many readers that they saw #88-Dale Jarrett run over an air hose during his first pitstop at Watkins Glen this past weekend. I did not notice or see it and if it happened, either NASCAR did not think the infraction was severe enough to warrant a penalty, it was missed or the crew got the hose out just before the car left. Not looking to speculate, dwell or get any more email on this issue. Folks are getting pretty nasty over this, and am getting conflicting reports on the situation but as I said, not looking to dwell on this. Have a problem with it, email or contact NASCAR, see my Racing FAQ page for the info(8-15-2000)UPDATE: Benny Parsons covered this question on ESPN2's RPM 2Night and basically said "it was missed or the crew got the hose out just before the car left" (sounds familiar). As Benny said, it is illegal to run over the air hose and it is in the rulebook. Saw the replay and it was hard to tell as a crew member did jerk the air hose back just as the car left. then the hose looked like it fell back. Anyhow, case closed(8-16-2000)

Vasser to NASCAR? CART driver and former CART champ, Jimmy Vasser, will leave Ganassi Racing at the end of the 2000 CART season. Vasser, who says he'd like to race two or three more years, could have several options in the CART paddock or possibly the Indy Racing League.(SpeedNet) AND On Saturday, Vasser, who had one year left on his contract with Ganassi, was open to the idea of giving NASCAR a chance. "I would consider almost anything," he said. "The grass is always greener, too, isn't it? NASCAR puts on a good show, but it's a different kind of racing."(Pittsburgh Post Gazette)(8-16-2000)

(8-15-2000)

Long at Michigan: the #85 Mansion Motorsports team plans on being at Michigan this coming weekend with Carl Long as the driver. For more info on the team and Long, see my #85 Team News and Links page for....news and links. Long also hopes top run at Bristol on Aug 26th(8-15-2000)

Fine?? UPDATE yep #28: hearing that a major fine will be handed down to a Winston Cup Team after illegal parts were found on a car after the race at Watkins Glen. No idea at this point who, butPitNow is reporting that the #28 Ford of Ricky Rudd was "worked his car over well after the race" by NASCAR officials and that before the race the team was "caught with a lightweight rear trailing arm by NASCAR; since that piece is welded together"UPDATE: NASCAR officials announced today they have penalized #28 crew chief Michael McSwain for trailing arms that were modified to be lighter than the specifications in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book discovered in preliminary inspections on Friday for last Sunday's Global Crossing @ The Glen at Watkins Glen. McSwain was fined $10,000 for violations of Section 20-12-A in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "If an I-Beam style trailing arm is used, it must be constructed using two (2) C-channels of a minimum one (1) inch in width by three (3) inches in height magnetic steel with a minimum wall thickness of 1/8 inch... welded back to back, creating a vertical wall of two (2) 1/8 inch wall thicknesses..." McSwain was penalized under Section 12-4-Q: "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform... or have not been approved by NASCAR."(NASCAR)(8-15-2000)

Musgrave in? UPDATE yep race-by-race Hearing Ted Musgrave will be back in the #01 BellSouth Chevy at Michigan after giving way to road racer(and BGN driver) PJ Jones at Watkins GlenUPDATE: Ted Musgrave will pilot the #01 BellSouth/Team SABCO Chevrolet on a week-to-week basis, beginning
with the Aug. 20 Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway. Musgrave took the reins of the BellSouth NASCAR Winston Cup entry in the July 30 Pocono 500 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and the Aug. 5 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also drove the #82 Channellock/Team SABCO Chevy in the BGN at Gateway and IRP.(SABCO PR)(8-15-2000)

Stricklin in the #90, rest of the year: Hut Stricklin was named driver of #90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford for the remainder of the season, according to team owner Junie Donlavey. Stricklin has been with the team for three weeks, finishing well at Indianapolis and acting as the crew chief for Brian Simo at Watkins Glen last week, Simo failed to make the race when Qualifying was rained out. Donlavey has not hired another crew chief because Stricklin, who has been calling the shots for himself, said he wants to take the time to hire someone he is sure will complement him(Keystone Marketing/Hills Bros Racing)(8-15-2000)

Little to PPI? UPDATE 2: Chad Little appears to be a finalist for the Cal Wells-owned Winston Cup car sponsored by McDonald's(2nd team to #32 Scott Pruett/Tide). Wells plans to run two Winston Cup cars next season and may put the McDonald's car in a few races this year(Like Houston at Michigan)(Times-Dispatch)(8-8-2000)UPDATE: hearing Chad Little will drive the #97 McDonalds Ford in the BGN race at Michigan for PPI Motorsports and is a candidate for the 2nd Cup teamUPDATE 2: PPI Motorsports owner Cal Wells III announced that Chad Little will drive the team's Busch car - the #97 McDonald's Ford Taurus - in this weekend's BGN race at Michigan. Little's entry in the BGN race is an addition to his regular driving duties for Roush Racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series(#97 John Deere Ford). The #97 McDonald's Ford represents the third entry for PPI Motorsports this weekend at Michigan Speedway. PPI Motorsports will have a two-car Winston Cup effort for the weekend - the #32 Tide Ford driven by Scott Pruett, and the recently announced #96(thought it was #98??) Ronald McDonald House Charities Ford driven by Andy Houston. This weekend's McDonald's Busch effort will be supported with personnel from PPI Motorsports and Stan Hover Motorsports(#80), with Stan Hover serving as crew chief. Hover has fielded ARCA teams since 1996(McDonald's Racing PR)(8-15-2000)

Martin/BBBSA: Mark Martin's on-track performance in the Valvoline Ford, combined with contributions from Valvoline and NASCAR fans, has brought the current total raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters since 1999 to $528,065. Valvoline is donating $5,000 for every Winston Cup race Martin wins, $2,500 for each pole, $1,000 for a top-five finish, and $20 per lap Martin leads in this "Caring Hands" program. The next trackside fundraiser, where fans can participate, will be this Sunday (8 a.m.-noon) at the Valvoline souvenir trailer outside Michigan Speedway(Valvoline PR)(8-15-2000)

DEI Sets Record: The three first time winners in this season matches a mark found just six years ago when in 1994 Sterling Marlin, Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Spencer won for the first time in their careers. While there have been 25 drivers, including Park, to score their initial career victories since the sport entered its "modern era" in 1972, this is the first season an owner has been able to claim two first-time winners. Both Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who scored his initial win in the 500 at Texas in April, and Park drive for the team owned by Dale Earnhardt(DEI)(TachZone)(8-15-2000)

Bristol Testing: Drivers testing at Bristol Motor Speedway Monday were #94-Bill Elliott and #16-Kevin Lepage along with BGN drivers #24-Ricky Hendrick and David Green(in the #34 or helping Hendrick? not sure). The test was extended into Monday night so drivers could get accustomed to the cooler conditions as the Races in two weeks will be at night. #44-Kyle Petty, #31-Elliott Sadler and possibly Tim Fedewa will test at BMS on Tuesday. #40-Sterling Marlin and several other drivers from Team Sabco(Ganassi Racing) are scheduled to test at BMS Wednesday and Thursday(Bristol Herald Courier(link good for Tues only) and see an image at the Bristol Motor Speedway site. I hear Ted Musgrave will test the #01 Cup car and the #82 BGN car at Bristol for Sabco/Ganassi(8-15-2000)

(8-14-2000)

Not Cup but Scary: Horrified fans watched as a race car driver staggered away from a fiery four-car crash, his body fully engulfed in flames until a photographer was able to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. The crash happened late Saturday night at the suburban Tacoma track Spanaway Speedway, where local drivers raced late model cars. The driver, identified as Mike Easley, remained hospitalized Sunday in critical condition. Another driver was in serious condition with burns on his head, face and torso(AP/Star Telegram). For more info and to email the drivers, see the Spanaway Speedway Site(8-14-2000)

Eel River Racing to get new Digs: Jack Birmingham, #27 team owner, is building a $5.5 million headquarters in a Mooresville(NC) business park, with plans to more than double employment to 100 by next year. Eel River Racing, now based in Lakeside Business Park near Mooresville with 40 employees, will move to Talbert Pointe Business Park once its 70,000-square-foot building is complete. The key is finding a sponsor for a second racing team to operate from the new building(Story is a bit outdated, although just posted on their site, but had some good info I did not have posted even though they still have Jeff Fuller listed as the driver)(Business Journal of Charlotte)(8-14-2000)

Benny Traded? thought this was interesting....NBC will get Benny Parsons on camera a little earlier than expected. ABC ''traded'' Parsons to NBC for the Homestead race in November in exchange for replay rights to Tiger Woods' victory in the U.S. Open. Parsons is to be NBC's color commentator next season(PitNow)(8-14-2000)